had just finished what she calls one of the best runs of her life, here at crystal mountain, south of seattle. >> it was amazing. >> reporter: when she looked down and saw the snow moving strangely beneath her. >> i saw a crack. and you hear a little pop when it starts to go. i realized it was an avalanche. it pushed me into a tree. and all of a sudden, i was encased. and i couldn't move. >> reporter: she was buried. her first thought, above everything else, how to breathe. her left hand could move just enough to get the snow away from her mouth. >> my head was down, facing down a little bit. and so, i, like, had to kind of scoop the snow away. i breathed in snow a little bit. that was scary. >> reporter: that's what saved your life, having that left hand free to get a little bit away. >> yeah. i was, like, kind of in a sitting position. and my right arm was stuck out to my side. >> reporter: couldn't move it? >> yeah. couldn't move it. >> reporter: and the second wave hit her. a wave of fear she might not be found. >> i felt very alone. i felt like, you know, this could be it. >> reporter: a